Epstein Secrets

e moderate because they bore the brunt of economic boycotts and military clashes with Israel. Exiled Hamas bosses living in the relative comfort of Damascus, however, could afford to take a tougher stance. But the "Arab Spring" has turned the equation on its head, with longtime hard-liners who had resid

r said, "See, all of these fingers are on the same hand. Some are long, some are stout. But when we grasp something, it is together." Still it was Zahar who was seen as having broken ranks over the last year with his public and personal attacks on Meshaal for pursuing the reconciliation deal and fai

me see as an indirect acceptance of Israel's existence even though Hamas officially refuses to recognize Israel. In an interview at his Gaza home, Zahar, once viewed by the West as a moderate, acknowledged the debate within Hamas, but said the divisions were being exaggerated and exploited by its en

guaranteed access to U.S. markets. The Iraq War was designed to "shock and awe" that nation's ruler and to convince other opponents of the U.S., in Damascus and Tehran, especially, that they could be next. Meanwhile, it was hoped that once a pro-Western, democratic Iraq stabilized, it would give the U.

ic backlash against what they called a coup could yet lead to the Brotherhood's resurgence. "Our policy right now is to keep the people quiet," Mr. Zahar said. "We have to keep our people highly immunized against the extreme attitude." Mr. el-Zaza, the finance minister, declined to say what spending

hree senior Hamas leaders — Ziad el-Zaza, the finance minister and deputy prime minister; Ghazi Hamad, who handles foreign affairs; and Mahmoud al- Zahar, a hard-liner — said they were taking a "wait and see" EFTA_R1_00441198 EFTA01964450 approach to Egypt, hoping that perhaps the tide could turn t

munity. EFTA00662939 Lebanon is divided between those for and against the Syrian government, and for and against Hezbollah's military support for Damascus. Against this background it will be surprising if many Arab heads of state feel enthusiastic about attending the next summit in Kuwait (Syria is al

al-Attiyah visited Tehran for that purpose. The source added that last week, Iran gave the green light for Meshaal's visit after contacts between Zahar and Marwan Issa, a senior leader in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing. This long overdue visit will culminate in Meshaal meeting

apostates. Hamas, in contrast, does not call for the overthrow of Arab regimes and works with Shiite Iran and the Alawite-dominated secular regime in Damascus, pragmatically preferring weapons, money, and assistance in training to ideological consistency. Hamas, like its parent organization, the Muslim Bro

y surprising as Hamas is known for the discipline of its cadres and members. In an interview carried by the Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday, Zahar criticized the statements made by Hamas leader Khalid Meshal on 4 May in Cairo during the signing of the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and H